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Diazepam

Medication benzodiazepine mental health
Aka: Valium
Brands seen in Singapore: Diapine, Stesolid, Valtoco, Diazepam Lipuro, AA Pharma Diazepam
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Severe anxiety, seizures or muscle spasm, as prescribed
When to take
NHS: short term only — up to about 4 weeks
Take with
Water · NHS: alcohol and grapefruit juice raise the risks
Pros & cons
Pros
  • NHS: for severe anxiety, seizures and muscle spasms
  • SG register: tablet, injection, enema and nasal spray
  • NHS: most adults and children can take or use it
Cons
  • NHS: addiction and withdrawal if used beyond 4 weeks
  • NHS: less alert, drowsy, tired, low blood pressure
  • US label: with opioids — sedation, coma, death risk
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, cached in full and filtered locally) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “All 9 registered diazepam products carry Forensicclassification 'Prescription Only' — SIN00044P AA PHARMA DIAZEPAM TABLET 5 mg · SIN00421P DIAPINE INJECTION 5 mg/ml · SIN02309P STESOLID ENEMA · SIN17435P VALTOCO Nasal Spray 10mg/spray · SIN08242P DIAZEPAM LIPURO INJECTION”
  2. Singapore National Drug Formulary — VALTOCO Nasal Spray 10mg/spray [SIN17435P], section 2.2 maximum dosage and treatment frequency · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Do not use more than 2 doses of VALTOCO to treat a single episode. It is recommended that VALTOCO be used to treat no more than one episode every five days and no more than five episodes per month.”
  3. US FDA label for Valium (diazepam) tablets, DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, via openFDA (effective 2026-08-11) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Dosage should be individualized … While the usual daily dosages given below will meet the needs of most patients, there will be some who may require higher doses … 2 mg to 10 mg, 2 to 4 times daily”
  4. US FDA label for Valium (diazepam), WARNINGS — risks from concomitant use with opioids, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Concomitant use of benzodiazepines, including Valium, and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.”
  5. NHS — Diazepam: what diazepam is for · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Diazepam is a type of medicine called a benzodiazepine … severe anxiety with symptoms such as sweating, shaking and not sleeping (insomnia) · seizures (fits) · muscle spasms”
  6. NHS — Diazepam: important short-term use warning · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Diazepam should only be used short term, up to 4 weeks. Taking it for longer can cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms.”
  7. NHS — Diazepam: common side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Common side effects of diazepam include: feeling less alert · increased anxiety and depression · feeling drowsy (sleepy) · tiredness · low blood pressure (hypotension)”
  8. NHS — Diazepam: who can use diazepam · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Most adults and children can take or use diazepam.”
  9. NHS — Diazepam: who can and cannot use diazepam · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “it may not be suitable if you: have long-term kidney, liver, heart or breathing problems · have certain mental health conditions · have a history of alcohol or recreational drug misuse … are pregnant or trying to get pregnant”
  10. NHS — Diazepam: taking diazepam with other medicines · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “antidepressants such as fluvoxamine and fluoxetine · antipsychotics, such as clozapine · antihistamines that make you sleepy · general anaesthetics (to put you to sleep before surgery)”
  11. NHS — Diazepam: food, drink and alcohol · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Do not drink alcohol or grapefruit juice while taking diazepam as it can increase the risk of side effects. Drinks that contain caffeine can sometimes reduce the effects of diazepam.”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.